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Using the Jahnke Valuation Model (JVM), which relies on a variety of factors comparing a player to other players at the same position, ESPN determined Manning was the most overpaid player in the league in 2013 based on his on-field performance.

It seemed as if Manning was improving year after year and had worked his way into the second tier of quarterbacks. He seemed to hit a peak in his Super Bowl season of 2011, and then took a minor step back in 2012. This was followed by 2013, which was a major step in the wrong direction.

Manning's accuracy percentage of 57.5 was second-worst among starting quarterbacks, and his inaccuracy led to 27 interceptions (more INTs than any QB has had in a season since 2005). He threw the ball better than average on intermediate and — at times — deep throws, which still made him worth a decent amount of money, but not anywhere close to his cap hit of $20.8 million.

He has two more years on his contract, where he is owed roughly the same amount in annual value as he was in 2013. He is 33, the age where quarterbacks typically start to decline, so even if he has a slight rebound, he would continue to be the most overpaid player in the NFL.

As with many other Eli critics, what Nathan Jahnke (who also works for Pro Football Focus) fails to factor in was the play around Manning. Or rather, the lack thereof.

While Manning lead the league in turnovers in 2013, that was at least a partial product of a number of other factors including an inconsistent, aging and oft-injured offensive line, relatively predictable play-calling, miscommunication with his wide receivers and lack of a solid running game.

Although Manning does not escape the entirety of the blame — and how could he? — the value he brings to the Giants franchise is incalculable. And his age aside, there's certainly not enough valid evidence when factoring in everything mentioned above to declare that Manning will "continue to be the most overpaid player in the NFL."

Since we’re on a football blog … and it’s World Cup time … I’ll attempt to solve the mystery of why America will never embrace soccer like the rest of the world.

Yes … soccer faces tough competition for our top talent. Yes … they have nether the rabid fan base nor the national TV contract. They face real obstacles, and I’m not diminishing them.

However … the way the game is played goes against the national image of how a man behaves. In football … real ‘Merican football … if you get knocked on your a$$ you jump up and scowl … showing them that ‘hey, you can’t hurt me … I’m tougher than you … bring it a$$hole. !!!’

In soccer you roll on the ground at the slightest touch, fake pain and injury like a little girl denied her birthday pony, and cry for a foul in a manner that would make Tom Brady envious.

Face it. It’s just not what we do. It’s not how we act. This sort of behavior makes you a puzzy. A whiner. It’s unmanly. And it’s often blatant cheating too.

I played soccer … I like the game … but it’s got a very limited ceiling in this country. Mainly because it doesn’t conform to the image we have of how tough, athletic ‘guys’ are supposed to behave. When the tournament ends it’ll fade till the next one.

The flopping is one thing, but the truth of the matter why America will never embrace soccer is really due to the fact that it’s too low scoring. Why do you think Hockey has trouble in this country? Americans want to see HIGH SCORING events.

I just spent two weeks in Europe hearing folks insist that the US will never win the World Cup if we don’t embrace flopping because our team’s reluctance to fake it will never be rewarded and will cost us against smarter teams that “play” the officials.

Right there is why soccer doesn’t deserve to become this country’s sport.

I don’t care that there isn’t enough scoring. I’ve thought playoff hockey is one of the greatest demonstrations of exciting and talented athletes for many years. I played lacrosse and actually think that it would be better off as a professional sport if they REDUCED scoring.

The U.S. will win when the likes of Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and JPP (basically any skill position player some linebackers and DE’s) decide to play soccer. We would basically beat the $7!+ out of Germany and whoever else got in the way. And of course, we (outside of one deranged Mike Tyson) don’t bite people to show aggression. And our fighting options do not include “scratching the oppositions eyes out” Those silly beasts.